Rescue Mission serves Christmas Eve meal

The Ruiz family from Terra Bella started a new family tradition this Christmas — volunteering.

The nine family members turned out to the Porterville Rescue Mission Life Recovery Center on Christmas Eve to hand out toys and warm weather clothes to the needy during the fourth annual giveaway.

“We’re trying to teach the kids not only to receive, but to give,” Myra Ruiz said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the kids learning to help.”

The notion of giving is one the Rescue Mission’s Director Rudy Ramirez said is heightened during the holiday season. The Rescue Mission assists the homeless or otherwise needy in Tulare County with food and clothing. It also offers spiritual counseling, help with drug and alcohol addiction, and assistance with money management and employment.

“We teach them to give, give, give,” he said. “Everyone who comes through [the shelter] sees it with their own eyes everyday and it rubs off on them.”

Some of the 20-or-so volunteers arrived at the Rescue Mission, located at Olive Avenue and A Street, as early as 5:30 a.m. to start cooking a turkey dinner for the approximately 100 recipients. A line of about 50 people had already formed outside the center by 11 a.m.— two hours before the meal was served.

“The most important thing that they do today is eat,” Ramirez said.

But Strathmore resident Causha McArthur waited in line to select gifts for her three children.

She said she is unemployed and a single mother, and as a result “there are a few gifts under the tree, but it’s not a lot,” she said.

The six-bed men’s shelter was transformed into “Santa’s Workshop,” Ramirez said, with wrapped gifts ready to be doled out. Jackets, coats and sweaters in all sizes hung from six circular racks in the parking lot, and pants, shoes and toys were piled upon tables.

It was a stock that community members, retailers and other nonprofit organizations had been donating to the Rescue Mission since Halloween, according to Ramirez.

He said the Rescue Mission was the recipient of more toy and clothing donations than ever before.

“The community recognized that there was more of a need this year,” he said. “Times are tough, it has made their hearts tender.”

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.